Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-09-30
CURTIS CONCLUSIONS.
In Regard to Matters Closely Connect
ed with Profitable Pig culture.

In Regard to Matters Closely Connect
ed with Profitable Pig culture.
once knew bunch Of pigs which
ran in field, ate grass, and rooted a
little; were fed little shelled corn
scattered on the ground. and two meals
OF slop made of water and wheat mid
dlings. says +. ID. Curtis. writing to the
Country Gentleman. There were near
y score OF them and they were thrifty
and pictures OF health. They slept un-
der shed all enclosed. except IN open
door in the m ddle. through which they
entered. Their bed was dry. and n
fresh lot OF straw once in while made
1t inviting Here was real pig para
disc. and the sprightly ways and bright
looks OF the inmates were proof beyond
dispute. of comfort, health and rapid
growth.
By-and-by winter came. The shed
was required for sheep, and the pigs
were shut IN large building with a
lot Of straw put in one corner for a
bed. and the rest Of the space for a
feeding place, and other uses natural
TO the pigs. Outside of the bed and
around the troughs the place soon
became muddy, and this wet and mud
dy condition soon extended over the
bed; and il new lot of straw was
thrown upon il, in one day it would be-
come saturated. Here the pigs would
pile upon each other. and the steam
would rise from the mass of uncomforta-
bic and struggling animals until each
one was hot and wet
The pigs were fed twice as much grain
rs they had had while in the field and
she'd but still there was no visible gain.
They all looked gaunt and staring In
a few weeks they began to cough, and
some Of them to pant showing an af-
fiction of the lungs, or at least more
or less congestion Not long after tho
weaklings began to die. They would
be found under the pile, smothered.
These cases of death were not those Of
cholera, but OF disorder known as
stupidity. II is d sease which RACES
among the owners of live stock more
than with the animals, but unfortun-
ately the animals suffer the most This
man got the scales off his eyes, saw
things ms they were, and reasoned out
!, better plan.
lie put the pigs in lots Of five, grad
ed according to size. He gave each lot
pen by themselves, and room TO eat
and move about, in one place, and a
bed in another. The bed was always
dry and the place warm. The pigs
which were not too far gone recovered.
and the rest began to grow and did
well. Here are practical lessons,
which apply the year over. and the read
er can Judge regarding them. A more
careless man. and one Indifferent TO
the comfort Of his animals, would have
left things rs they were. and no doubt
would have lost all his pigs in short
time. There are many cases Of just
such management with hogs which re-
suit fatally, and are ascribed to cholera
or some contagious disorder.
am satisfied that hogs should not
be kept in hot or close place. or in q
basement where the manure is put. A
farmer recently consulted me about
putting his hog-pens under his barn in
All extended basement His plan was
to drop all Of the manure from the
barn and COW stables into this base
ment, aud let the hogs live on il and
work it over.
This would make the place damp
and more or less wet under foot, the
very conditions unsuited to swine, as it
was the intention OF the owner to wall
it all in, SO that it would not freeze 1t
is not necessary that a playhouse should
not freeze but it is necessary that the
air should be free from dampness and
the chiliness which is connected with
cellar or warm, damp place. Hogs
are very susceptible to colds, both in
ward and outward, and to rheumatism.
believe it is law. which cannot be
broken with mpunity. that the human
species will become sick when confined
to damp quarters. The results are just
the same with swine. The air must be
dry and pure; above ground is the only
place to keep hogs. Hogs do not mind
the cold. if they can be dry and clean,
and can get into a good bed where
they can partially cover themselves.
The bed should always be located where
no drafts or currents OF air will blow
: upon them. They never do well when
!, this is the case. and much OF the sick.
u ness of hogs is due to such exposure.
A Pig does not perspire like horse,
and on this account it should never be
driven fast or chased by dogs. 1t only
4 takes little hurrying to get pig very
y, much heated, and often fatal results
will follow. If an overheated pig is ex'
posed to the cold it will cool too sud-